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The Board, Management, and Staff of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) have expressed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the students who passed on during a fatal road traffic accident that occurred along Nyanga road.
“We wish a speedy recovery to those that were injured from this tragic incident. We urge bus drivers to exercise extra caution, adhere to traffic laws and avoid speeding, drinking, and driving when transporting school children. When embarking on a journey, it is advisable to have your vehicle serviced by reputable mechanics and inspected before a long trip. Get faults diagnosed and fixed promptly and check tyre condition and pressure regularly. We encourage drivers to avoid night driving at all costs.
“We also implore the school authorities and bus operators to always employ drivers who possess drivers’ licenses and defensive driving certificates. Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe in liaison with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will step up awareness programmes in schools in conjunction with school heads and other relevant authorities,” said Mr. Munesushe Munodawafa, the TSCZ Managing Director.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has since intensified its Schools Road Safety Programme with the recently launched Schools Road Safety Awareness Campaign still underway.
“Road Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Let us all safeguard the lives of our children,” Mr. Munodawafa added.
According to a memo by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer Commanding Manicaland, on the 14th day of October 2022 at around 1900 hours, Machimbidzofa Chamunorwa, an adult aged 43, was driving a blue and white Higer Tynward High School bus registration number ADS 4919 along Rusape-Nyanga road near Pine Tree Hotel due north with 41 students and four staff members on board.
Upon reaching the 75-kilometre peg on the said road at a sharp curve, he failed to negotiate a curve, veered off the road to the left, and the bus rolled several times on a steep slope. In the process, some passengers were thrown out, injuring 34 of them and killing five on the spot as the bus landed on its roof.
The injured passengers were ferried to Nyanga District Hospital and one died upon arrival at the Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where they were admitted.
A report was made to police Nyanga Traffic who attended the scene. Next of kin were advised. The vehicle sustained extensive damages and is at the scene awaiting inspection by the Vehicle Inspectorate Department.